SPD and CDU Continue Coalition Negotations

Thomas Imo

German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere (L), from the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Frank-Walter Steinmeier (), head of the Bundestag faction of the German Social Democrats (SPD), shake hands before a Coalition Negotiation meeting at the Defence Ministry on October 31, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. The SPD, CDU and Bavarian Chrisitan Democrats (CSU) are seeking to create a coaltion government following German elections in September.

German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere (L), from the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Frank-Walter Steinmeier (), head of the Bundestag faction of the German Social Democrats (SPD), shake hands before a Coalition Negotiation meeting at the Defence Ministry on October 31, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. The SPD, CDU and Bavarian Chrisitan Democrats (CSU) are seeking to create a coaltion government following German elections in September.

Single Euro Payments Area ( SEPA )

Thomas Trutschel

The official Logo of Single Euro Payments Area ( SEPA ) is seen on a computer screen through a magnifying glass on October 24, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. SEPA is an initiative of the European banking industry that will make all electronic payments across the euro area and the deadline for euro area countries to migrate to the SEPA credit transfer and direct debit schemes is set at February 1, 2014. The second migration progress report released today by The European Central Bank (ECB) warned against late migration to the new schemes.

The official Logo of Single Euro Payments Area ( SEPA ) is seen on a computer screen through a magnifying glass on October 24, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. SEPA is an initiative of the European banking industry that will make all electronic payments across the euro area and the deadline for euro area countries to migrate to the SEPA credit transfer and direct debit schemes is set at February 1, 2014. The second migration progress report released today by The European Central Bank (ECB) warned against late migration to the new schemes.

Norbert Lammert

Thomas Trutschel

The President of the German Bundestag, Norbert Lammert (CDU) speaks to the media at Bundespressekonferenz on October 23, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. The lower house of parliament re-elected Lammert as its president with almost 95 percent of the 625 votes cast.

The President of the German Bundestag, Norbert Lammert (CDU) speaks to the media at Bundespressekonferenz on October 23, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. The lower house of parliament re-elected Lammert as its president with almost 95 percent of the 625 votes cast.

Sarah Stricker

Michael Gottschalk

Author Sarah Stricker poses during a portrait session at the 2013 Frankfurt Book Fair on October 11, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. This year's fair will be open to the public from October 9-13 and the official partner nation is Brazil.

Author Sarah Stricker poses during a portrait session at the 2013 Frankfurt Book Fair on October 11, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. This year's fair will be open to the public from October 9-13 and the official partner nation is Brazil.

Kretschmann; Lieberknecht

Thomas Trutschel

Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg (L) and Christine Lieberknecht, Minister-President of the state of Thuringia, arrive for a press conference at Bundespressekonferenz on October 11, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg (L) and Christine Lieberknecht, Minister-President of the state of Thuringia, arrive for a press conference at Bundespressekonferenz on October 11, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

Daniel Dylan-Boehmer

Michael Gottschalk

Journalist and author Daniel Dylan-Boehmer poses during a portrait session at the 2013 Frankfurt Book Fair on October 10, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. This year's fair will be open to the public from October 9-13 and the official partner nation is Brazil.

Journalist and author Daniel Dylan-Boehmer poses during a portrait session at the 2013 Frankfurt Book Fair on October 10, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. This year's fair will be open to the public from October 9-13 and the official partner nation is Brazil.

Kersten Knipp...

Michael Gottschalk

Kersten Knipp poses during a portrait session at the 2013 Frankfurt Book Fair on October 10, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. This year's fair will be open to the public from October 9-13 and the official partner nation is Brazil.

Kersten Knipp poses during a portrait session at the 2013 Frankfurt Book Fair on October 10, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. This year's fair will be open to the public from October 9-13 and the official partner nation is Brazil.

Luca di Vulvio at Frankfurt Book Fair

Michael Gottschalk

Italian Author Luca di Vulvio poses during a portrait session at the 2013 Frankfurt Book Fair on October 10, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. This year's fair will be open to the public from October 9-13 and the official partner nation is Brazil.

Italian Author Luca di Vulvio poses during a portrait session at the 2013 Frankfurt Book Fair on October 10, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. This year's fair will be open to the public from October 9-13 and the official partner nation is Brazil.

German Green Party and German Christian Democrats Enter Coalition Talks

Thomas Trutschel

Volker Kauder, Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Minister-president of Hesse Volker Bouffier (CDU), German Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer, German Christian Democratic Union ( CDU ) General Secretary Hermann Groehe, German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chairman of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), Horst Seehofer, and CSU (Christian Social Union) secretary general Alexander Dobrindt arrive for German Green Party and German Christian Democrats coalition talks at German Bundestag on October 10, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

Volker Kauder, Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Minister-president of Hesse Volker Bouffier (CDU), German Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer, German Christian Democratic Union ( CDU ) General Secretary Hermann Groehe, German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chairman of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), Horst Seehofer, and CSU (Christian Social Union) secretary general Alexander Dobrindt arrive for German Green Party and German Christian Democrats coalition talks at German Bundestag on October 10, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.